49ers move angers many longtime fans

Updated 11:42 pm, Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez - San Fran, The Chronicle

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Construction workers are seen on the lattice work of structural steel that will be the new 49ers' stadium as work underway on Tuesday, September 25, 2012, in Santa Clara, Calif. The stadium is scheduled to open in 2014, and the 49ers will make the stadium their new home.

Construction workers are seen on the lattice work of structural steel that will be the new 49ers' stadium as work underway on Tuesday, September 25, 2012, in Santa Clara, Calif. The stadium is scheduled to open

San Francisco 49ers executives have their photo taken before signing a steel beam during the Topping Out ceremony at the new 49ers stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, December 6, 2012.

San Francisco 49ers executives have their photo taken before signing a steel beam during the Topping Out ceremony at the new 49ers stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, December 6, 2012.

Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The Chronicle

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San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York speaks during the Topping Out ceremony, where a signed I-beam is added to the highest point of the new 49ers stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, December 6, 2012.

San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York speaks during the Topping Out ceremony, where a signed I-beam is added to the highest point of the new 49ers stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, December 6, 2012.

Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The Chronicle

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A signed I-beam waits to be raised to the highest point of the new 49ers stadium during the traditional Topping Out ceremony in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, December 6, 2012.

A signed I-beam waits to be raised to the highest point of the new 49ers stadium during the traditional Topping Out ceremony in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, December 6, 2012.

Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The Chronicle

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Steel workers wait as a signed I-beam is lifted into place at the highest point of the new 49ers stadium during the traditional Topping Off ceremony in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, December 6, 2012.

Steel workers wait as a signed I-beam is lifted into place at the highest point of the new 49ers stadium during the traditional Topping Off ceremony in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, December 6, 2012.

Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The Chronicle

49ers move angers many longtime fans

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This week, I inadvertently dipped my bucket into the anger well. There's a deep reserve of latent hostility toward the 49ers.

My column on which team was more popular - the 49ers or the Giants - garnered tremendous feedback, more than Tim Lincecum's haircut! And people wanted to vent about the 49ers' move to Santa Clara.

The column was prompted by our oddly low (28th out of 56 markets) Super Bowl rating. I doubt the pending move caused the anemic rating; the market includes San Jose.

But there's no denying the simmering level of anger.

Kathleen wrote: "I am dismayed and angry that you failed to mention that the 49ers will no longer be in San Francisco and season-ticket holders (of which I have been one for 49 years) are asked to pay thousands of dollars for seat licenses and drive many miles to see the games."

Sy echoed her thoughts: "How many have a love affair with U.S. 101?" On seat licenses, he asked, "Since when are corporations and the 1 percent characterized as 'the Faithful'?"

Leo said, "They have a foot out the door. That doesn't engender the warm and fuzzies." Kimi said, "Longtime fans feel betrayed that they've moved to the moneyed Santa Clara area rather than remaining part of our community."

"They are not part of our city fabric," wrote Ken. "It's a joke that the city fathers are trying to sell San Francisco as host city for a Super Bowl that would be played 90 minutes away."

The media looks at the stadium issue more dispassionately. We see the financing issues, competitive concerns, the inability to make something happen in San Francisco and shrug. Eight regular-season games a year, played at some mass of steel and concrete somewhere.

But to 49ers fans in San Francisco and the North Bay, the move 40 miles south is a very big deal. Not only because of distance and dollars, but from a sense of rejection and disloyalty. They view the move as a sellout to Silicon Valley money, a betrayal of a rich heritage. It sounds like their longtime love affair is over.

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